Remember, we don't own RENT, nor do we rent it. This is a postRENT story that my friend is helping me write. Enjoy! (Gosh, it's a miracle we got this out! My friend had an essay, and it took her forever to finish! But all's well that ends well!)
I sighed, sitting down on the steps outside our loft door. I just needed time to think. The weeks had flown by quite fast. It was already Halloween, and Maureen and Morgan were setting up for the party on the other side of the door. I clutched my camera possessively, knowing that no matter what happened, it would always remain the same.
Morgan would be starting school in a few days…with Collins. Yes, Morgan had convinced me out of going to public school and now our good friend was going to home school her. It's not like it had been hard to persuade me; I didn't want my little sister going to a school filled with drugs and junkies. Anyway, now she wouldn't have to worry about people teasing her because she was autistic; Collins would never do something like that (at least seriously, but he still didn't know).
Mimi had been released from the hospital the other day and was excited about coming to Morgan's party. However, Roger was now overprotective of the poor girl. He was downstairs with her right now actually, helping her get ready for the party. Though Mimi was still pale and weak, I was just glad she was back to her usual self.
Despite all the good news, a little bad news forced its way into my mind. A week or so ago, Joanne had driven Morgan and I to our parents' funeral. I saw people I thought I'd never see again, like our older sister, Cindy. Well, I didn't actually see Cindy. I saw her grave, but that's another story. I was swarmed by people I didn't even know (or remember) coming up and apologizing. For what? It's not like I cared that my parents were dead. But I took the 'beating' while Morgan just sat there, silently crying. She was obviously closer with Mom and Dad than I was.
Sighing, I got up and made my way into the loft. I was done thinking about stuff like that for today- I was ready to have fun!
"What are you supposed to be?" Maureen asked as I entered the room, not looking up from the orange balloon she was tying, then throwing it into a bag.
"I'm a starving artist." I answered, grabbing my coat (which I had forgotten) and heading out the door to continue filming. I felt something grab my wrist and throw me on the couch.
"No you're not." Morgan said, pulling a box of makeup off the counter.
"Oh no…"
Maureen pulled a skirt and a sweater out of her bag and the two of them looked at each other, smiling mischievously.
"No, no, no, no!"
Twenty minutes later I was standing in the middle of the room dressed in drag, complete with a wig and contacts. (Either Morgan felt bad about stealing my glasses before, or she wanted me to get the full effect of my "makeover" and see everyone's reaction)
I walked into the bathroom and looked up into the mirror. "FUCK!" I screamed, ripping the wig off my head and stripping down to my boxers, "NO! I am not going out in drag!"
"Come on, Marky!" Maureen begged.
"No." I said again, feeling my face heat up.
"What if we dress you up as something else?" Morgan asked.
"Depends..."
"On what?"
"Can I wear pants this time?"
Both girls laughed. "If you insist." Maureen said, probably rolling her eyes.
I cautiously walked out of the bathroom, holding the bundle of clothes (and the wig) in my hands. Maureen snatched the collection away and stuffed it back in her bag, sighing. I could tell they were both disappointed.
"Can I have my glasses back?" I asked.
"Nope," Morgan mumbled, a mischievous smile crossing her face, "They'd ruin your outfit…"
I had no idea what they were going to do to me, but Maureen seemed to figure out Morgan's plan immediately. "It'll have to do," she sighed, "I just still wish he would've stayed in drag."
I gulped. This could not, WOULD not, end well…
Half an hour later, I was led to the bathroom. "We're going in there with you," Maureen said, "We want to make sure you don't ruin it this time!"
"And don't touch your face, you'll smudge the makeup," Morgan mumbled.
"Don't touch your hair, you'll ruin the gel," Maureen added.
I sighed and rolled my eyes. The things I let them put me through…gosh I was an idiot. I looked in the mirror. Okay, I was a Goth idiot. That's right, Goth. The entire ensemble.
Team M (Morgan and Maureen) had managed to find baggy black pants (not a skirt, thank god) criss-crossed with silver chains and an oversized black sweatshirt with a skull on it. I looked in the mirror at a Mark Cohen that didn't seem to be me. With all of the eyeliner and black lipstick, my pale skin seemed ghostly white. As I lifted my hands to my face, I could smell the sharpie they'd decked my fingernails in. I ran my hands through my now spiked, black-streaked hair with awe. I had to admit, they were good…real good.
There was a knock on the door and the two girls ran out to answer it. I peeked out of the bathroom to see who it was.
"Hi girls." Collins said, sitting on the couch and taking up where Maureen left off, blowing up balloons.
"Hey, man." I said sitting next to him.
"Hey…Mark?"
The girls laughed, as Collins seemed to ponder my strange transformation. I smiled awkwardly and held my hand up so he could see the black nails too.
"He looks good!" He said after a moment of thought, "Good job girls!"
I made myself a cup of tea and sat by the window, watching the sun set. Just half an hour till the party. Just three more hours till I could get this shit off of my face.
I looked up from my tea, suddenly realizing something. "Hey!" I nearly yelled, staring at Team M, "How come you two aren't dressed up?"
They both sighed. "Chill Mark," Morgan said, "We're getting changed when we're done getting ready."
"Which is now." Maureen added.
I sighed as the two girls made their way to the bathroom, large bags in hand. Collins laughed. "Two peas in a pod," he mumbled.
"Most unfortunately," I answered, "I thought one Maureen was bad enough!"
"I heard that!" Maureen called from the bathroom, "Don't make us dress you up in drag again…and make you stay in it all night!"
I rolled my eyes and shuttered, instantly shutting up. Collins laughed heartily. "They dressed you up in drag?" he muttered, "I would've paid to see that."
"Haha. Very funny." I said dryly, carefully sipping my tea. I didn't mind in the least about smudging my lipstick, but if I did, another hour of 'touchup' would follow, and I sure as hell didn't want to go through THAT again.
"Why do you let them push you around?" Collins suddenly asked.
"What?"
"You look so miserable in your sexy little outfit. Why do you do that to yourself?"
I shrugged. "I dunno," I answered softly.
Collins just chuckled. "If getting pushed around means you getting dressed up in drag and Goth and who knows what else, you should let them do it more often."
"Go to hell," I muttered.
"Party time!" Maureen called stepping out of the bathroom in black leather short-shorts and a matching leather halter-top. She had her hair back in a black headband with black cat ears.
"You do know that we don't have heat, right?" I asked pointing to her bare limbs.
She rolled her eyes at me, "I've gotten used to it. I lived here remember?"
"Oh yeah…"
Morgan stepped out of the bathroom and cleared her throat. Standing with a huge grin on her face she opened her arms wide and proclaimed: "Hello, I am Mark Cohen and I am cuter than your puppy."
Her hair was up in a tight bun at the back of her head, she was wearing all my cloths, including my scarf and jacket. She had taken the frames out of an old pair of wire-rimed glasses, and was grinning ear to ear.
I almost snorted out my tea. "Me?" I asked, "You're being me for Halloween?"
Morgan smiled and nodded. Collins walked over and spun her around.
"Well I have to say, she does make a good you."
I rolled my eyes and took to staring out the window again. There was a knock on the door and someone answered it.
"Mark, you seem to have shrunk a few inches!"
Roger and Mimi walked in the door, laughing and still talking to 'Mark'. But when they saw me, they stopped abruptly. "But…but…" Roger stuttered, turning from Morgan to me and then back, "TWO Marks!"
Morgan laughed. "You wish," she mumbled, "Nah, just one Mark. Maureen and I decided to dress the real Mark up a bit."
Roger and Mimi laughed. "I like it," Mimi said, "You look good Mark. It works for you. Of course, I still lov- erm- enjoy the company of regular, classic Mark."
Everyone laughed, including me. "So," I asked, surveying my roommate and his girlfriend's not so extravagant costumes, "What are you guys supposed to be?"
Roger pulled up the hood of his black sweatshirt, revealing two red devil horns taped to the top. "Your worst nightmare!" he whispered harshly, trying not to break down laughing.
I turned to Mimi, who was wearing a tattered, black and white striped miniskirt and tank top. "And you?"
"An inmate…from the hotel of love."
Roger picked her up and swung Mimi's frail body around. "And I've come for your soul!"
Mimi's giggling filled the room. "Stop it!" she shrieked and Roger put her down, "Hey Collins, what are you?"
Collins pulled out a big pair of black sunglasses and put his hands on his hips. "A hit man," he said coolly.
"Hello?" A muffled voice asked form behind the door, "Someone want to open the door? Please?"
Morgan opened the door to reveal Anne. She was wearing all white and had a pair of angel wings strapped to her shoulders. Her makeup was dramatic blend of whites and gold's to complement her costume as well as her looks.
"Thanks," she whispered, blushing as everyone's eyes fell onto her. "Its only me, you can go back to talking now." She mumbled, keeping her eyes on the ground.
"Anne!" Morgan called, "Your makeup is beautiful!"
Anne mumbled an inaudible 'thank you' before sitting down next to me on the couch as Collins got up, pulling bottle after bottle of beer out of his big, hit man jacket. I surveyed the room. All of my best friends were there, and we had 'unlimited access' to beer. This was going to be one crazy night…
To be continued...
